Is 400 enough for two dc?

[Lipperfromchipper]

Just a Christmas question, dc are 6 and 4,
I have spent about 320 so far and was thinking if I spent another 80 between them on stocking fillers that would be plenty?? But I’m getting cold feet about that!!? How much have you spent on two dc of similar ages??

@Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah - thanks for the reply. I get it if they are getting presents from the wider family. Obviously lots don't get this. But I think I'd still feel mean if I didn't at least get them one present from us aside from their stocking from FC!

Jesus... yeah it's enough for this Christmas, next Christmas and both of their birthdays for the next few years

My DM would wrap up a nightie and dressing gown. One year I got an umbrella. Happy memories. I know I was loved. Material things don’t equal love. My childhood was special and things came way down the list of priorities.

My MIL has bought me

A spatula
A wooden spoon
Numerous pepper grinders
Oven gloves * many
Aprons
Garlic press
Waiters friend

None of these things are premium brands or luxuries. Just the stuff you pick up
In Sainsbury.

My DM would wrap up a nightie and dressing gown

I always get my dc pyjamas and dressing gowns for Christmas. It's not their main gift, just an extra. I figure if they need stuff, I may as well wrap it up and stick it under the tree as an extra thing to open

Pass your comment actually made me check my DS’s pension fund and it is currently £125K, personally

It's great he is saving @Ragwort but allowing for inflation that will not be worth anything in 50 years time. Out of interest, how has an 18 yr old, not working, saved that much? (Or bank of mum and dad?)

How has he got a £125k pension from £400ish a year contribution and no employers contribution? That makes no sense.

You’re ridiculous. I’ve just spent £50 on stocking fillers between three children. Then they have one main present each that they really want. I might buy a few more bits but really that’s plenty.

Wow, don’t understand why people are becoming so upset over what other people spend. Spend what you can afford, don’t get into debt and enjoy.

Posts like this always make me think 'tat for tat's sake'. Like that stupid woman in the paper that bought her kids 100 presents each or whatever it was. There must have been all kinds of crappy shit in that pile.

Out of interest, would people be appalled at that amount being spent on a partner/husband? Or is just when it's kids?

My partner and I usually spend £200-300 on each other at Christmas. This year he's getting a piece of tech for his man cave he's been gayer for ages that is £200 and I'll probably spend another £100 on bits and bobs like a T-shirt, socks, a computer game, some smellies, etc. In the past he's got me an iPad, I've got him a new smartphone etc. Is this excessive? Or allowed because it's an adult?

After! Not gayer Thanks, phone

I love how OP was absolutely slated and dragged over hot coals over spending a few hundred on her kids at Christmas, yet a PP is openly *'bragging' her son has over £100,000 in his pension pot and hasn't even started work yet. How on earth is one okay and the other isn't? Because a pension is 'sensible'? Which, yes, fair enough... but I'd imagine kids with a pension that high at 18 are definitely a tiny percentage of the population. So, really, it's a worse thing to say because the majority of the UK's kids won't have that, if we go by the logic of some posters.

• for the record, I don't think either of them were 'bragging'. Just stating figures and asking questions/replying to people. But apparently online if you dare state anything to do with money, everyone gets up in arms and starts crying about it. And I say that as an average earner.

Mumsnet is a bizarre old spot.

But this isn’t about people who are really poor. This whole conversation is about sofas and armchairs full of presents. And the different approach of wrapping up necessities to make a pile of presents

Don’t get me started on the illogical nature of starting a pension for a child and that through tax relief the government is actually assisting with the saving

@Celebelly

I'm not sure how it'll go, actually. People like to argue that kids who receive multiple presents at Christmas are bound to turn into hateful little toe rags, so maybe it doesn't matter if you spend a few hundred on your partner because he's a grown man.

However, maybe because he is a grown man he should theoretically be buying himself those things out of his own wage and it's ridiculous to expect someone to spend any sort of money on anyone else at Christmas, akin to the children.

I personally like to treat people I love in proportion to what I can afford. I'd feel like a stingy bastard if I didn't get DP anything. I will be spending less than I'd like this year on him, though, simply because I'm on unpaid maternity leave currently. :)

He clearly hasn't saved £125k, that's the value of his pension fund, invested over 18 years.

The birth of Jesus, our saviour who later selflessly gave his life for our sins. That’s exactly what it’s always been about, selflessly giving.
@Mymycherrypie @PepePig

Who says? I've never heard of church 3 times a day. Jesus and the Nativity, yes, but the rest of that is your own personal interpretation

Well, it's not my fault you have never heard of church 3 x a day! It usually begins on Christmas Eve with midnight mass, followed by early morning communion then Evensong.

The giving of gifts at Christmas is in remembrance of the Magi who gave gifts to baby Jesus. Nothing to do with 'selfless giving'. You are possibly getting confusing and conflating it with Easter (when Christ is seen as giving up his life.)

@Ragwort He clearly hasn't saved £125k, that's the value of his pension fund, invested over 18 years. Who puts the value on it? If it's stock market invested funds they can go up and down and the value is only a true value when it's cashed in.

How has he got a £125k pension from £400ish a year contribution and no employers contribution? That makes no sense

If his parents have saved £3600 per year then that's perfectly achievable.

It's great he is saving @Ragwort but allowing for inflation that will not be worth anything in 50 years time. Out of interest, how has an 18 yr old, not working, saved that much? (Or bank of mum and dad?)

Invested in the stockmarket it will beat inflation and will have improved it's spending power over time. It will also go up and down, but it is likely that any dips will be balanced by growth... unless you think global markets will fail during his lifetime?

Who puts the value on it? @jinglingHellsBells with the best will in the world I think you need to educate yourself on pensions and how one saves for them.

If I could afford it I'd spend about £200 each

@Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah With respect to you I do understand pensions. I have one. Occupational one- now receiving- and a private one. DH has one. Your claim that an investment will beat inflation- well, yes, possibly long term but there is no knowing. If there is a run on the pound any time who knows what pensions will be worth or if they are raided by a political party?

@jinglingHellsBells your questions and observations indicate you don't. Having a pension doesn't show understanding. You're not alone though.

The records from the 23 developed economies that have been collected since 1900 would counter that unless the entire global economy is going to fail then it will beat inflation. Not 'possibly'. In fact our modellers can tell you the probability at any rolling 30 year period, which for an 18 year old is a fair time. That's modern portfolio theory for you though.

If you just want to forecast that the whole world is going to fail (climate change anyone), you could have the whole lot under the bed and it wouldn't be safe. Investing in the markets is investing in 'real' assets and if you put your money to work then that's the best likelihood of success.

I think you're actually having an ice bun moment here.

Too much at their age. My DC are older and have asked for more expensive gifts this year (think Nintendo switch and laptops) so they know that in order to get the more expensive items, they are going to get less presents overall. We’re not skint but I don’t like to spoil my DC either, I also hate waste so I’m not buying anything unnecessary this year.

My youngest is one and he is getting eight presents, the majority are useful things. He has no idea what’s going on and has so many lovely toys he barely plays with, he prefers inanimate objects.